14 



labor would be wasted. Mr. W. C. Kerr, the originator of the mos- 

 quito work at that place, and an excellent observer, is decidedly of 

 the opinion that mosquitoes are not brought over from New Jersey. 



Almost everyone must have noticed the habit of mosquitoes of 

 clinging to branches of trees and grasses during a high Avind, swarm- 

 ing out in flight as the wind subsides, liut there must be instances 

 when they are greatly aided in spreading by such gentle winds as 

 those mentioned above by Dr. Fernald. 



In this connection an observation made by Mr. R. M. Reese in 

 Baltimore is significant. He found that by treating the privy vault 

 in his backyard with kerosene, the supply of mosquitoes to the house 

 was greatly reduced, although there were man}" other breeding places 

 only a little farther removed. 



Another significant instance was mentioned by Prof. Herbert 

 Osborn at the Boston meeting of the Association of Economic Ento- 

 mologists. He said that in dry seasons the small pools within a quar- 

 ter to a half a mile from the college buildings at Ames, Iowa, dry up 

 and the mosquitoes disappear, in spite of the fact that within about a 

 mile there are large pools which never l^ecome dry. 



On this point Mrs. C. B. Aaron writes very sensibl}' as follows 

 (Dragon Flies vv. Mosquitoes — The Lam born Essavs, Appleton &■ Co., 

 ISOO, pp. 35-36): 



The migration of mosquitoes has been the source of much misapprehension (jn the 

 part of the public. The idea prevalent at our seaside resorts that a land breeze brings 

 the swarms of mosquitoes from far inland is based on the supposition that it is capable 

 of long-sustained flight and a certain amount of battling against the wind. This is an 

 error. Mosquitoes are frail of wing ; a light puff of breath will illustrate this by hurling 

 the helpless creature away, and it will not venture on the wing again for some time after 

 finding a safe harbor. The prevalence of mosquitoes during a land breeze is easily 

 explained. It is usually only during the lulls in the wind at such times that Culex can 

 fly. Generally on our coast a sea breeze means a stiff breeze, and during these even the 

 Odonata, and often the robust and ventursome Tabanida?, will be found hovering on 

 the leeward side of the houses, sand dunes, and thick foliage. In the meadows south 

 of Atlantic City, N. J., large swarms of Culex are sheltered in the dense grass or 

 wind-battered tree tops on the off side of the sand dimes. Here, in common with all 

 localities so exposed to searching wind, the trees and large bushes are much stunted 

 in growth and battered down to a flat top and common level by the wind. In these 

 matted branches, dense with the close-clustered foliage, the mosquitoes may be dis- 

 covered in such numbers as to bring despair to the heart of the student who is plot- 

 ting their final extermination. While the strong breezes last Culex will stick close 

 to these friendly shelters, though a cluster of houses may be but a few rods off, filled 

 with unsuspecting mortals who imagine their tormentors are far inland over the salt 

 meadows. But if the wind dies down, as it usually does when veering, out come 

 .fvvarms upon swarms of the females intent upon satisfying their depraved taste for 

 blood. This explains why they appear on the field of action almost immediately 

 after the cessation in the strong breeze; on the supposition that they were blown far 

 inland, this sudden reappearance would be unaccountable. 



Carriage of mosquitoes hy railway frai/tis.— The State of New Jersey 

 has an unfortunate reputation in connection with mosquitoes. While 



